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Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Florida

Business Security

Florida has a bit of everything—exotic beaches, exciting cities, swamplands, theme parks, southern charm and everything in between.

A state that has everything also has something else—crime. The Tampa Bay Times makes its case for Florida as the most dangerous state in the country, and many official sources such as the FBI official statistics on crime place it in the top 5. And if you live in Florida, or plan on moving there, you may be wondering which areas are the most dangerous.

Here are the five most dangerous cities (with a population above 5,000) in Florida:

  • Florida City
  • Lake City
  • Opa Locka
  • Lake Park
  • Panama City Beach

Don’t take this list as a warning to get out or stay clear—use this information to your advantage. Keep your home and family safe with a security system from Ackerman. Call 800.552.1111 or get an instant security quote online today.


Note: This list uses information and statistics from various studies and sources, including official FBI crime data and information from RoadSnacks.

 

Florida City

If “Florida Man” was a bizarro superhero then Florida City would probably be its headquarters. On a map, Florida City seems like it would be the dream. It’s nested right in between Miami and the Florida Keys and has Everglades National Park in its back yard.

But in reality, Florida City is not the dream at all. It’s considered the murder capital of the state and has the most violent crimes per capita in Florida. Residents face a 1 in 38 chance of being the victim of a violent crime there.

Population: 12,180

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,619 (Most dangerous in FL)

Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,266 (Third most dangerous in FL)

 

Lake City

Formerly known as “Alligator, Florida,” Lake City was home to the largest civil war battle in Florida and is clear across the state from Florida City, sitting right between Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

Crossing the other side of the state isn’t enough to run from the crime, however. Residents still have a 1 in 15 chance of being robbed or the victim of property damage and it’s still the third most dangerous city for violent crimes per capita. The region has come a long way since the civil war, but you’ll still want to lock your doors at night.

Population: 12,141

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,326 (Third most dangerous in FL)

Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,432 (Fourth most dangerous in FL)

 

Opa-locka

Heading back down to Miami-Dade County, Opa-locka is a bit newer than old Alligator, Florida, founded by an aviation pioneer in 1922. Its Moorish style architecture gives it an iconic look that you might recognize from blockbuster movies filmed there, such as Bad Boys II and 2 Fast 2 Furious.

But the beautiful architecture and Hollywood draw can be deceiving on safety. Opa-locka falls right behind Florida City in violent crimes per capita and is riddled with car theft—about one every three days. It seems like criminals took those movie titles too literally.

Population: 16,501

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,957 (Second most dangerous in FL)

Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,139 (Sixth most dangerous in FL)

 

Lake Park

This next city may be called “Lake Park” but it sits right on the beach. Lake Park, Florida is the first zoned municipality in the state and certainly looks like the ideal place to raise a family with one glaring exception—property crime.

While you might not be the victim of a violent crime, you should keep an extra eye on all your valuables. This city has more property crimes per capita than any other city in Florida.

Population: 8,670

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 991 (Eighth most dangerous in FL)

Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,073 (Most dangerous in FL)

 

Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach runs on one kind of fuel—tourism. It’s quite possibly the spring break capital of the country. Perhaps all of those visitors are the reason behind some of the staggering crime numbers. 

Neither its violent crimes (ranked 7th in Florida) or its property crimes (ranked fifth) make Panama City Beach stand out on its own, but its high concentration of tourism during peak seasons are when you want to be extra careful.

Population: 13,266

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,002 (Seventh most dangerous in FL)

Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,347 (Fifth most dangerous in FL)

 

Keep Yourself Safe

Create the safest environment for you and your family so you never fall victim to crime in these communities. Have a safety plan and get the support you need from someone you can trust like Ackerman.

For over 50 years, Ackerman Security has been keeping homeowners safe and protected with customized home security systems.

Call 800.552.1111 or schedule an appointment online today.

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